Glendora Council approves AvalonBay mixed-use development

Glendora took a big step toward anticipating the city's future needs on Tuesday when the city council approved a mixed-use development near the future site of the Metro Gold Line.

Proposed by AvalonBay Communities Inc., the project will consist of 256 apartment homes and 4,000 square-feet of commercial real estate on nearly 5 acres at the northeast corner of Route 66 and Glendora Avenue.

"This project definitely is different from what we've had in Glendora so far," Councilwoman Judy Nelson said in her comments at the council meeting. "It will be much more dense than anything we've ever had, it will be higher than our other projects and I'm certain it will increase traffic," which has been a major argument by the project's opponents.

"But I think that it will be a wonderful new addition to our city," Nelson added. "I think that it will bring us new residents, which we need for our businesses and for our schools."

The city planning department worked with the developer to address several concerns that were voiced in a planning commission workshop in December.

The project features indoor and outdoor entertainment amenities such as a children's play area, dog park, basketball courts, pools, patios and a fitness area and club room.

Opponents of the development cited traffic and parking concerns, which AvalonBay representatives addressed in their report.

The City hired KOA Corporation to prepare a traffic study for the proposed project, which concluded that the project would not have significant impacts on traffic except at the intersection of Route 66 and Glendora Avenue. The study proposed modifications to the intersection, including extending right- and left-turn lanes.

"Transit-oriented developments are here to stay, they're going to be more and more prevalent in our local area," Councilman Doug Tessitor said in his comments at the council meeting. "This project and the other project of 53 units on Ada are in anticipation of the Gold Line station."